Museveni stops Semliki take over
May 24, 2004
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has opposed the change of land use of Toro-Semliki wildlife reserve despite his directive to allow pastoralists and refugees from DR Congo to graze in part of the reserve.
By Gerald Tenywa
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has opposed the change of land use of Toro-Semliki wildlife reserve despite his directive to allow pastoralists and refugees from DR Congo to graze in part of the reserve.
“I hereby affirm my earlier statement that the Government will give priority to national and international values above the local values, and will not agree to requests to degazette part of Semliki wildlife Reserve for grazing purposes,’’ Museveni said.
Museveni, in Dece-mber 20 letter said he was aware that the people from Rwebisengo wanted to degazette part of the wildlife reserve for expansion of their grazing grounds.
However, Ntoroko county MP Rodgers Matte has petitioned Parliament seeking to degazette the whole wildlife reserve and give it to pastroralists and cultivators.
Speaking last week in Bundibugyo district, state minister for tourism Jovino Akaki, the district officials and MPs on the tourism committee clashed over the matter.
“The issue of land shortage cannot be overcome by the Government giving more land under the reserve because at one point it will have nothing to give,’’ Akaki said, adding that overstocking was to blame for the land crisis.
Akaki said the people would reap from the reserve in future through tourism and that landslides and flood cases would increase if the land use was changed.
Bundibugyo district LC5 chairperson Jackson Bambalira prompted the reactions when he asked the rationale of protecting wild animals at the expense of human beings.
The showdown comes after a recent meeting between Museveni and wildlife officials led by Akaki in which Museveni maintained that the wildlife reserve would remain a protected area.
Museveni said diversity had suffered due to wanton destruction of game.
Matte’s petition said shortage of land in Bundibugyo had led to encroachment on the protected area in the district and migration of some people to Kabarole, Kasese, Mubende, Kibaale and Hoima.
He said landslides and floods in the Semliki valley and Rwebisengo area were disastrous in the rainy seasons.
“The communities in these areas often look destitute in their own country where they are denied access to fertile land and forced to live on marginal land on the periphery,’’ Matte said.
But the prevailing misuse of land has provoked the natural disasters and would become more severe with the change of land use, Akaki warned.
Semliki must be protected, as it is one of Uganda’s great natural resources, and at one time supported more antelope per square kilometre than any other park in Africa, according to Jonathan Wright.
Wright is an investor under the Uganda Safari Company, which has built a lodge for providing accommodation for tourists in the reserve.
Sources said most of the cattle being grazed in the reserve belong to the same owners who have been encroaching on the game reserve for many years and not refugees from DR Congo.
Museveni said refugees from the Congo who speak similar language with the Batuku and the local herdsmen should be allowed to graze in part of the park.
Museveni’s directive of June last year has seen running battles between herdsmen backed by Brig. Kale Kaikula and wildlife officials.
UWA set aside 10% of the 542 square kilometre reserve as controlled area for grazing and corridors through which the cattle can access watering points along river Wassa.
Dr. Arthur Mugisha, who heads UWA said tourists have encountered cattle grazing in the park because the herdsmen were undermining the wildlife authorities.
Ends
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has opposed the change of land use of Toro-Semliki wildlife reserve despite his directive to allow pastoralists and refugees from DR Congo to graze in part of the reserve.
“I hereby affirm my earlier statement that the Government will give priority to national and international values above the local values, and will not agree to requests to degazette part of Semliki wildlife Reserve for grazing purposes,’’ Museveni said.
Museveni, in Dece-mber 20 letter said he was aware that the people from Rwebisengo wanted to degazette part of the wildlife reserve for expansion of their grazing grounds.
However, Ntoroko county MP Rodgers Matte has petitioned Parliament seeking to degazette the whole wildlife reserve and give it to pastroralists and cultivators.
Speaking last week in Bundibugyo district, state minister for tourism Jovino Akaki, the district officials and MPs on the tourism committee clashed over the matter.
“The issue of land shortage cannot be overcome by the Government giving more land under the reserve because at one point it will have nothing to give,’’ Akaki said, adding that overstocking was to blame for the land crisis.
Akaki said the people would reap from the reserve in future through tourism and that landslides and flood cases would increase if the land use was changed.
Bundibugyo district LC5 chairperson Jackson Bambalira prompted the reactions when he asked the rationale of protecting wild animals at the expense of human beings.
The showdown comes after a recent meeting between Museveni and wildlife officials led by Akaki in which Museveni maintained that the wildlife reserve would remain a protected area.
Museveni said diversity had suffered due to wanton destruction of game.
Matte’s petition said shortage of land in Bundibugyo had led to encroachment on the protected area in the district and migration of some people to Kabarole, Kasese, Mubende, Kibaale and Hoima.
He said landslides and floods in the Semliki valley and Rwebisengo area were disastrous in the rainy seasons.
“The communities in these areas often look destitute in their own country where they are denied access to fertile land and forced to live on marginal land on the periphery,’’ Matte said.
But the prevailing misuse of land has provoked the natural disasters and would become more severe with the change of land use, Akaki warned.
Semliki must be protected, as it is one of Uganda’s great natural resources, and at one time supported more antelope per square kilometre than any other park in Africa, according to Jonathan Wright.
Wright is an investor under the Uganda Safari Company, which has built a lodge for providing accommodation for tourists in the reserve.
Sources said most of the cattle being grazed in the reserve belong to the same owners who have been encroaching on the game reserve for many years and not refugees from DR Congo.
Museveni said refugees from the Congo who speak similar language with the Batuku and the local herdsmen should be allowed to graze in part of the park.
Museveni’s directive of June last year has seen running battles between herdsmen backed by Brig. Kale Kaikula and wildlife officials.
UWA set aside 10% of the 542 square kilometre reserve as controlled area for grazing and corridors through which the cattle can access watering points along river Wassa.
Dr. Arthur Mugisha, who heads UWA said tourists have encountered cattle grazing in the park because the herdsmen were undermining the wildlife authorities.
Ends